From your lips to your deity of choice; there’s been all too little of that “progress” stuff around, for all too long.

Although it could perhaps be a bit bolder in terms of a regional realignment, I think Obama’s Iran policy is relatively sound–engagement and rapprochement rather than demonization and (God forbid!) military action.

The Viewing With Alarm about this non-discovery seemed a bit much to me, and I feared it was the beginning of a saber-rattling phase, to be followed by something worse. I’m guardedly hopeful that we’ve made a bit of progress.

Umm, gee, because some third party put it in the public eye? I haven’t seen Obama act surprised–as noted, he said we’ve known for some time. Of course it’s not a game changer, nor has the admin. said it is; Obama and allies have used it to focus attention and build support, which it appears to be doing. What would constitute coherence to you–resolute silence? Denial that the facility exists? Denial that the facility is part of the issue? As an attack on Obama’s foreign policy or Iran policy, your statements/positions seem, well, incoherent.

We’ve known about this for years. It’s not open yet and not very big. Why have a media circus NOW? Why act surprised? Is this some kind of game-changer?

If it’s just a bit of trilateral chest-pounding preparation for the negotiations, fine, but it all seems rather silly and contrived. I keep having visions of Louis Jourdain, “Shocked. Shocked.” But what are our winnings from this event?

As to my comment seeming to reflect impatience, the critic has a point. Diplomacy is slow, and slow diplomatic muddling through, posturing and all, is preferable to precipitate action.

Still aa publicity stunt rather than a strategy, it seems to me.

Suddenly discovering a “secret” installation we’ve known about for years, making a chest-beating show of concern, and then nothing at all.

Really, isn’t this an example of the critic’s incoherence? So, we’ve known of the facility for years; may I assume it wasn’t discovered by Obama’s senate staff, but by US intelligence agencies? And kept secret by two administrations because neither necessarily publishes every intelligence discovery it makes? Once public, he acknowledged our knowledge; and joined other international leaders urging further action v. Iran. And, gee, in the ensuing two weeks, hasn’t forced Iran to give up it’s entire nuclear program, nor started the bombing campaign!!!

The stupid is strong in this example, as so many others.

GOM, that’s awful grumpy.

Like lupus or diabetes.

John McCain showed up on my tv last week once again. How often did we hear from John Kerry after his loss? How often have we heard from him since? Leftist losers disappear, rightest losers have endless comebacks, as if they ever go away.

Though in fairness, that’s not the real right, not the neocons. The neocons, in this one respect like the poor, we have with us always.

I’m curious about the accountability. How would that work? My guess is that the infrastructure of the right wing think tank machine is just too solid for any part to collapse. With jobs, book sales, radio and tv shills all guaranteed and co-dependent, just who is going to hold them to account? On the flip side, what would happen if this colossal misjudgment happened on the left? I think they are making progress (intended) on building a competing operation, but they aren’t there yet.

Finally, excuse me, but I can’t resist asking for help with an embedded spreadsheet of the PNAC Iraq letters signatories I put together. Any corrections or additional sources of neocon lists would be much appreciated.

Question: When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies that Iran broke the law regarding construction of the nuclear facility at Qom, what is the legal basis for his argument and does it hold water?

Deepti Choubey: Ahmadinejad is trying to argue that Iran is not bound by a modified Code 3.1 that Iran agreed to with the IAEA in February 2003. He is saying that Iran is bound to a previous Subsidiary Agreement where Iran would have to inform the IAEA of a new facility 180 days before fissile material is introduced to it. He is also asserting that the Majlis never ratified the modified Code 3.1. These arguments are false. The modified Code 3.1 does not require ratification. Instead, they are done through an exchange of letters. Iran tried to unilaterally break the agreement in 2007 and the IAEA said they could not do that.

The IAEA stated that both parties need to agree to terminate the agreement. A key issue for the upcoming inspection is whether the secret facility was constructed before Iran tried to terminate the modified 3.1 agreement. That would make it even more clear that Iran has violated its Subsidiary Agreement with the IAEA.

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23903&prog=zgp&proj=znpp

(Im not a fan of Palin but I found that speech to be quite intriguing.)

In this struggle with radical Islamic extremists, no part of the world is safe from those who bomb, maim and kill in the service of their twisted vision.

This war – and that is what it is, a war – is not, as some have said, a clash of civilizations. We are not at war with Islam. This is a war within Islam, where a small minority of violent killers seeks to impose their view on the vast majority of Muslims who want the same things all of us want: economic opportunity, education, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families. The reality is that al Qaeda and its affiliates have killed scores of innocent Muslim men, women and children.

In other words more of the “small minority of extremists hijacking a great world religion” canard and the discredited Thomas Friedman thesis of a “war within Islam”, rather then a war between Islam and the West. This is essentially the same nonsense peddled by the Bush administration for eight years which was used to justify the “liberation” of Iraq.

However, there is no more coherence anywhere else. Our President is charming and eloquent, but goofy. Suddenly discovering a “secret” installation we’ve known about for years, making a chest-beating show of concern, and then nothing at all. Denouncing as a “coup” a fairly legalistic set of events in Honduras. Dithering on Afpak (admittedly a situation with no good options), but flying off to the Tivoli Gardens for the Chicago Olympics. Trying to pressure Netanyahu but applying no pressure, and then caving in exchange for a photo-op.

There are a few astute observers among the realists and the paleocons, including your honorable self, but no politically significant opposition program. It appears that Obama is fading as a leader sooner rather than later, but even then, will the country really replace him with a dimwit? If it does, guess who’s advising the dimwits.

Meanwhile the crazy Zionists seem to have concluded that Obama will not follow Brzezinski’s advice and scramble US planes when the IAF crosses Iraq. The Taliban are building their IEDs and biding their time.

We are doomed to live in interesting times.